swap_horiz Lucifer's Hammer Alternatives

1

Hyperion

Hyperion is a 1989 science fiction novel by Dan Simmons, structured after The Canterbury Tales, following seven pilgrims...

Space Opera Classic Literary Pilgrimage

9.3 Excellent

2

The Martian Chronicles

A collection of interconnected science fiction novellas by Ray Bradbury, expertly narrated for a captivating listening e...

Classic Literature Adaptation Science Fiction

9.2 Excellent

3

Exhalation

Exhalation is a 2019 collection of science fiction short stories by Ted Chiang that explores profound themes regarding f...

Philosophical Hard SF Short Stories Hugo Winner

9.2 Excellent

4

The Fifth Season

The Fifth Season is a 2015 science fiction novel by N.K. Jemisin, winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel, set on a cont...

Geological Apocalypse Hugo Winner Jemisin

9.2 Excellent

5

The Player of Games

The Player of Games is a 1988 science fiction novel by Scottish author Iain M. Banks, set in his utopian post-scarcity C...

Space Opera AI Game Culture

9.1 Excellent

6

A Canticle for Leibowitz

This 1959 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Walter M. Miller Jr. won a Hugo Award and explores Catholic monastic...

Classic Religion Hugo Winner Post Apocalypse

9.1 Excellent

7

Roadside Picnic

Roadside Picnic is a 1972 Soviet science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky about the aftermath of an alien vi...

Russian Classic Zone Aliens

9.1 Excellent

8

Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon is a 1966 science fiction novel by Daniel Keyes about a man whose intelligence is dramatically incr...

Classic Literary Intelligence Social SF

9.0 Excellent

9

Use of Weapons

Written by Iain M. Banks and published in 1990, this novel is the third installment in the acclaimed Culture space opera...

Space Opera Culture Literary Structure

9.0 Excellent

10

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a lunar colony's revolt against...

Classic AI Libertarian Revolution

8.9 Great

11

The Obelisk Gate

The Obelisk Gate is a 2016 science fiction novel by N.K. Jemisin, second in the Broken Earth trilogy, and winner of the...

Sequel Apocalypse Hugo Winner Jemisin

8.9 Great

12

The Stone Sky

The Stone Sky is a 2017 science fiction novel by N.K. Jemisin concluding the Broken Earth trilogy, and winner of both th...

Sequel Apocalypse Hugo Winner Jemisin

8.7 Great

13

Ringworld

Ringworld is a 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven about explorers investigating a massive artificial ring-shaped...

Classic Hard SF Hugo Winner Niven

8.3 Great

14

The Mote in God's Eye

The Mote in God's Eye is a 1974 science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle detailing humanity's first cont...

Classic Hard SF First Contact Niven

8.3 Great

15

Protector

Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by Larry Niven set in his Known Space universe, exploring the life cycle of th...

Classic Evolution Hard SF Niven

7.6 Good

16

Seveneves

Seveneves is a 2015 hard science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson about humanity's survival after the moon disintegrates...

Hard SF Near Future Apocalypse Stephenson

7.5 Good

17

Forge of God

Published in 1987 by Greg Bear, this hard science fiction novel depicts the destruction of Earth by an unknown alien int...

Classic Hard SF Alien Invasion Apocalypse

7.5 Good

18

Footfall

Footfall is a 1985 science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle depicting an alien invasion of Earth by elep...

Classic Hard SF Alien Invasion Niven

7.5 Good

19

Ship Breaker

Published in 2010 by Paolo Bacigalupi, this young adult science fiction novel is set in a post-apocalyptic future and wo...

Survival Climate Near Future Bacigalupi

7.4 Good

20

The Integral Trees

The Integral Trees is a 1984 science fiction novel by Larry Niven set in a gas torus around a neutron star where life ev...

Classic Hard SF Zero Gravity Niven

7.3 Good